Alcohol use and sexual behaviour among risky drinkers and bar and shebeen patrons in Gauteng province, South Africa
Section snippets
Overview
The two study sites in Gauteng province were a township area just outside the limits of a city, and a suburb within the boundaries of the city. The city site's inhabitants were racially and socio-economically diverse and consisted of just over 25,000 people in 2001, many of whom were unmarried and students of tertiary institutions (Veli Mahlangu, Statistics South Africa, pers. comm.). The site had as many as 250 liquor outlets in 2002 (South African Police Services, pers. comm.) and its few
Results
The findings of the four assessments are combined in order to present a global picture of participants’ perceptions of alcohol use, sexuality, and the relationships between alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour. Gender and study site comparisons are highlighted where evident. There were few differences between the accounts of the ‘risky drinkers’ and partners of ‘risky drinkers’ since most of the latter participants were in fact also ‘risky drinkers’. Direct quotations from the focus groups and
Discussion
This study extends previous research conducted in Africa that has linked alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour (Mnyika et al., 1997; Trigg et al., 1997). This research complements qualitative studies conducted in Zimbabwe (Fritz et al., 2002; Mataure et al., 2002) and helps to further understanding of the relationships.
A number of gender differences in the participants’ responses and observed behaviours were in evidence. Men's drinking was reportedly often for pleasure, recreational and
Acknowledgements
This research was conducted with financial and technical support from the WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. We gratefully acknowledge the participation of the members of the Community Advisory Board, and the translators and fieldworkers (William Dichaba, James Mabaso, Nthabiseng Makhudu, Moira Masipa, Tebogo Molebatsi, Helen Moshia, Helen Moshoeu, Mandla Msibi, Mavis Nkgapele, Mina Ramashala and Albert Shibambo).
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